The barber and God

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair cut as usual. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who was cutting his hair.

They talked about many things and various subjects. Suddenly, they touched the subject of God.

The barber said, "Look man, I don't believe that God exists! "

"Why do you say that? " asked the man. "Well, it's so easy. You just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be no suffering nor pain? I can't think of loving a God who permits all of these things."

The man thought for the moment, but he didn't want to respond so as to cause an argument. The barber finished his job and the man went out of the shop. Just after heleft the barber shop, he saw a man in the street with long hair and beard. It seemed that it had been a long time since he had his hair cut, and he looked so untidy.

Then the first man again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist! "

"How can you say they don't exist? " asked the barber. "I am here and I am a barber."

"No! " the man exclaimed. "You don't exist, because if you did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks the streets."

"But, I do exist, and that is what happens when people do not come to me."

"Exactly! " — affirmed the man. "That's the point. God does exist, and see what happens when so many people don't go to Him and do not look for Him? That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."